The effects of radiofrequency and incisional myringotomy on the duration of patency.

Objectives: We investigated whether radiofrequency could prolong the patency of myringotomy.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen guinea pigs were enrolled in this study. Myringotomies were created by radiofrequency in the right ears in the study group using the ENTec coblator plasma surgery system, while the left ears had incisional myringotomies as the control group. After myringotomies, the tympanic membranes were examined with otomicroscopy on the 5th, 7th, 10th, and 14th days. Closure times of the two groups were compared by the Mann-Whitney U-test.

Results: All the myringotomies were closed up to the tenth postoperative day. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to closure times.

Conclusion: Radiofrequency is a safe and minimally destructive method to perform a myringotomy, but it does not provide long-time patency.